Article by Liviu Manolache, Maria Olteanu – Published on Sunday, 22 February 2026 23:27 / Updated on Sunday, 22 February 2026 23:36
Kyros Vassaras (60 years old), the president of the CCA, decided to send Iuliana Demetrescu (36 years old) as the main referee to the match on Monday evening, between FCSB and Metalloglobuswhich ends the round with number #28 in the Superliga. It is the first time in the “Becali era” that a woman leads a FCSB match in the championship.
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FCSB – Metaloglobus plays on Monday evenings, from 20:00, at the National Arena. The match will be liveTEXT on GSP.ro and on TV on Prima Sport 1 and Digi Sport 1
The Romanian champion is going through a delicate period, being still far from the play-offs with three games left to play in the regular season. She is obliged to win with Metaloglobus, on Monday evening, in order not to be permanently out of the calculations.
The match will be refereed by Iuliana Demetrescu, who was challenged by Gigi Becali in the pastwhich included sexist comments towards her.
Iuliana Demetrescu
Iuliana Demetrescu, sent to the center at FCSB – Metaloglobus
CCA decided that Iuliana Demetrescu should be in the center for the match at the National Arena. She will be assisted on the two lines by Alexandru Vodă and Mihăiță Necula. Roxana Timiș was appointed reserve referee, while Cristina Trandafir and Valentin Porumbel will be in the VAR room.
The delegation of Iuliana Demetrescu may be curious, considering the past complaints of the boss Gigi Becali to a female referee.
In 2023, the FCSB boss was reported to the Disciplinary Commission within the FRF for the sexist statements addressed to the one who will lead Monday's match.
Did you see the match Voluntari – Mioveni? The referee was a woman, with her breasts in the wind on the field. Have you mentioned this before? That's what we needed. Where does she undress before the match? what is this I know, that's how it is in Western Europe, that's the fashion, but why do we have to do it that way? Go to women's football!
– Gigi Becali, in 2023
Later, Becali returned and made a new series of statements to her.
“That girl is beautiful. What is she doing there? Protect her! I like to protect the woman. I don't hurt her, I protect her. I admire her, I love her. Well, let her be the judge of women. That's my opinion. You don't change the opinion of a 65-year-old man now, when you come up with gender equality…
Well, that's my opinion. I can say what I want. I didn't offend her with anything. Am I not allowed to speak my mind? The woman must be loved and protected. You can't take it between 22 men. If I said she was ugly… But she is too beautiful to be a referee for men”, Becali also said, 3 years ago, about Iuliana Demetrescu.
From the Champions League to the destroyed turf of the National Arena
Iuliana Demetrescu will referee on Monday evening on the destroyed lawn of the National Arena, after a few days ago she was delegated to the match between Real Madrid and Paris FC, in Champions League in women's football.
For Iuliana Demetrescu, Monday night's match will be the ninth match in the Superliga, of which this will be only the second this season.
It is the first time he will lead the two teams in the main domestic competition.
Superliga standings
